BLPSG Chapter 46: A young man with a bright future

Thank you so much Jujü女王Joō for the lovely wishes and the Kofi! Enjoy the next five-updatesss!

 

On the way back to Yongdu, the heavy rain never stopped.

 

Unlike the lively scene on the way here, the atmosphere on the return boat was extremely depressing.

 

The emperor remained confined to his cabin, the scent of incense so thick that a single breath could leave one coughing for half a day. 

 

Wen Qingci spent half of the day by the emperor’s side.

 

Ancient emperors always sought longevity while simultaneously constructing their tombs. 

 

Emperor Xie Zhaolin, in particular, had an unusual preoccupation: he repeatedly examined the blueprints for Chenling, the burial site where he would rest a century later. 

 

The sheer volume of these drawings filled an entire chest.

 

Chenling, built alongside the canal during the Tianchu era, was still under construction twenty-six years later. It was undoubtedly the grandest engineering project since the founding of this dynasty.

 

The cabin lacked windows, and even during daylight, the dim light was inadequate. The emperor reclined on his bed, engrossed in the blueprints.

 

After a while, Xian Gonggong approached cautiously, placing a bowl of sweet soup on a small table near the bed. Just as he was about to retreat, the emperor unexpectedly looked up from the drawings, furrowing his brow.

 

“…Why do you suddenly appear so aged?” The emperor’s voice held disbelief.

 

Wen Qingci, who was writing medical records, couldn’t help but look up slowly.

 

How come the emperor has the leisure time to chat with Xian Gonggong today?

 

The steward seemed equally surprised by the emperor’s question. 

 

Before he could respond, the emperor set aside the blueprints, stood up, and asked, “Where is Yu Zhao? Where has he gone?”

 

Yu Zhao? That was the name the emperor had half-muttered during a recent half-awake moment!

 

As Wen Qingci pondered who Yu Zhao might be, the once-smiling steward’s expression turned grim. He placed down what he was holding and knelt on the floor. After a long pause, he finally said, “He… he has already passed away, many years ago.”

 

“Passed away?” The emperor’s voice rose sharply. He turned, incredulous, to the steward. “How did he die?”

 

“He… he has been gone for many years,” the steward stammered.

 

In my memory, the steward had always been adept at handling any situation. His response to the emperor was usually composed and measured. But today, he only bowed repeatedly, refusing to say more.

 

The scent of incense in the room intensified, and each thud of the steward’s head against the floor grated on the emperor’s ears.

 

“Leave, all of you!” After a few seconds of silence, the emperor erupted again, “Everyone out! Let me be alone here—”

 

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Xian Gonggong looked as if he had been pardoned. He quickly glanced at Wen Qingci and walked out with him.

 

The rain persisted outside.

 

After going out, the two stopped under the eaves for a moment.

 

Then, blocked by the sound of rain, Wen Qingci finally couldn’t help but ask the question.

 

“Xian Gonggong, do you know who the ‘Yu Zhao’ that His Majesty was looking for just now is?”

 

At the mention of that name, the eunuch tensed. He glanced around and then leaned in, lowering his voice. “Physician Wen, remember never to mention that name again, especially in the emperor’s presence.”

 

Wen Qingci nodded slowly.

 

The steward continued, “Ning Yu Zhao was the name of the late Emperor Ai.”

 

After saying this, his expression immediately returned to normal. He took the umbrella from the young eunuch beside him, nodded slightly to Wen Qingci, and left.

 

It’s as if nothing had happened.

 

Wen Qingci: “…”

 

Wait, “Yu Zhao” is Emperor Ai?

 

All of a sudden, the memory of the first time he heard the emperor mention this name came flooding back to Wen Qingci’s mind.

 

What appeared on the emperor’s face at that time was an unignorable fear.

 

As far as Wen Qingci knows, when the emperor was young, he should have had a good relationship with Emperor Ai.

 

But why does he feel scared whenever this name is mentioned?

 

If it were someone else, Wen Qingci might not be able to find the answer.

 

But now, the impression he had of Xie Zhaolin had already confirmed the four words “cruel and ruthless”.

 

Combining these things together, he can guess that he has probably done something shameful and vulgar again.

 

It is true that the emperor was cruel, but “cruel” and “guilty” have always been two different concepts.

 

The ships on the southern tour returned to Yongdu.

 

It had been raining for several days and finally the sky cleared up at this time.

 

Familiar street scenes passed by the car window.

 

Affected by the war in the north, the streets of Yongdu have become much quieter.

 

After getting on the carriage and seeing the familiar scenery outside, Wen Qingci’s plan gradually became clear…

 

In order to prevent any accidents from happening, he had to stay in Taishu Palace at least until the day of the palace coup.

 

During this period, the most important thing is to find out what the old grudges are between the original owner and the emperor.

 

He thought of a place –

 

The medical clinic in Yongdu that is connected to the Valley of Divine Physicians.

 

They set out in early summer and when they returned to Taishu Palace after the southern tour, it was already the end of midsummer.

 

After the rain stopped, the air was filled with hot and dry air.

 

The lotus in the pond was also wilted by the heat.

 

When Xie Bufeng was around, Wen Qingci felt nothing, but when he was the only one left in the small courtyard of the Imperial Medical Bureau, Wen Qingci finally realized that there were traces of the young man’s life everywhere.

 

Wen Qingci hesitated for a moment, and finally packed nothing away, leaving it as it was.

 

And carefully placed the fur muff on the top of the closet.

 

In order to facilitate contact with people outside the palace and ensure that his escape plan is foolproof.

 

After returning to Yongdu this time, he no longer lived in the Imperial Medical Bureau every day as he did before, but instead spent half of his time living in his mansion outside the palace.

 

A few days later, the cotton clothes that Wen Qingci bought in Yongdu were sent to the north along with the medicines he had prepared.

 

The steward was indeed very secretive in his work, and the emperor did not notice anything unusual from beginning to end.

 

The three towns of Changyuan, Yongkai and Xinghu are located at the northernmost end of the Wei Dynasty’s territory, but they can be reached in one day by riding fast horses from Yongdu day and night.

 

Those towns are surrounded by half Gobi Desert and half grassland, with a huge temperature difference between day and night. Even in the hottest summer of the year, the temperature in the early morning is less than ten degrees.

 

According to the emperor’s instructions, Xie Bufeng was taken directly to the nearest station to Changyuan Town occupied by the Northern Di.

 

Not only did they have to face the possible attacks from the Northern Di at any time, they also lived in danger every day.

 

And the living conditions are extremely difficult.

 

Xie Bufeng arrived at the base at 10 p.m.

 

By then, the sun had slowly set and the temperature in the base was dropping a little bit.

 

“Your Highness, please wait here. Someone will come to pick you up soon.” The messenger dismounted and saluted towards Xie Bufeng.

 

The road from Yinchuan Grand Canal to Changyuan Town is not easy to travel.

 

They originally thought that Xie Bufeng could not hold on, but they did not expect that the young man not only did not say a word or complain throughout the whole journey, but even until now, he did not even show any signs of fatigue.

 

There were heavy rains along the way and they crossed mountains and rivers, so the climate was complex and varied.

 

The young men seemed to have a special understanding of weather changes. They followed Xie Bufeng’s instructions and stopped frequently, without encountering any danger and without wasting any time.

 

Thinking of this, the messenger who had traveled with Xie Bufeng all the way couldn’t help but feel a little more respect for the prince.

 

“Very well,” Xie Bufeng dismounted, squinting as he gazed into the distance.

 

The vast grasslands stretched out before him, a winding stream cutting through the expanse. Beyond that river lay the occupied town of Changyuan, held by the northern tribes.

 

According to what Xie Bufeng had heard during their journey, the Wei army had already engaged in several battles with the northern tribes before their arrival. However, neither side had gone all out, it was more like testing the waters.

 

The messenger went to the military tent, but after a long while, no one came out to see Xie Bufeng.

 

The emperor’s orders were clear: Xie Bufeng was to be delivered here, and someone should have come to formally escort him to the military camp.

 

Yet the wait seemed unusually long for the young prince.

 

Time blurred, and the sun gradually sank beyond the grasslands’ horizon. Smoke from the campfires rose and fell, and the entire camp settled into silence.

 

The temperature dropped steadily.

 

Xie Bufeng’s designated waiting spot lay outside the camp, surrounded by open grassland. 

 

The wind howled, and the atmosphere turned eerie. He reached out to touch the warhorse that had accompanied him all the way north, then smiled slowly.

 

His amber eyes held disdain and contempt.

 

It was evident that the military officers stationed here intended to put Xie Bufeng in his place. 

 

Despite the relentless rain throughout their journey, he hadn’t complained or shown any signs of fatigue. Even now, he displayed no weariness.

 

Although they did not lose any lives, they still arrived half a day later than originally scheduled.

 

After the weather cleared up this morning, they didn’t dare to rest and ran all the way to Changyuan without stopping.

 

Therefore, the water and dry food that they carried with them had long been consumed.

 

Everyone should be hungry.

 

Hunger, thirst, cold, and loneliness—these challenges, combined with the ever-present threat of war, could break anyone’s psychological defenses. 

 

But Xie Bufeng wasn’t the pampered prince raised in Yongdu, these hardships held no sway over him.

 

He retrieved a water flask from the horse’s saddle and walked straight to the stream. Submerging it, he drew water and took a deep drink.

 

“Report! The Eldest Prince went to the stream to drink water himself,” a soldier guarding the command tent said, turning back.

 

“Himself?” The middle-aged man sitting in the main seat furrowed his brow. “He truly lacks the bearing of a noble prince.” His tone carried a hint of disdain.

 

Almost forgetting that Xie Bufeng had grown up alone in the imperial tomb, the man continued, “After all, this journey has been plagued by incessant rain. If it were Prince Xie Guanzhi here, he’d probably die of thirst rather than drink this unclean stream water.”

 

“General, should we call the Eldest Prince in now?” the soldier asked.

 

The man in the main seat shook his head, using chopsticks to pick up a piece of beef from the small table beside him. He chewed thoughtfully before saying, “No rush. Let the Eldest Prince experience the true hardships of the border.”

 

Although he commanded the troops stationed in Changyuan, he had connections in Yongdu. 

 

Moreover, it wasn’t a secret that the emperor wasn’t fond of Xie Bufeng. 

 

Even without knowing the full context, the man understood the emperor’s intentions in sending Xie Bufeng here.

 

Changyuan’s recent military reports hadn’t been favorable, and the emperor seemed to harbor some vague dissatisfaction with Xie Bufeng. His arrival now aligned perfectly with the man’s own interests.

 

It allowed him to vent his frustrations while subtly currying favor with the emperor. A win-win situation.

 

The stream water on the grassland was very clean, but its only drawback was its icy chill. As Xie Bufeng swallowed the frigid liquid, his body temperature dropped further, and every organ seemed to shiver.

 

He leaned against the horse, slowly sitting down.

 

He wore the standard military uniform provided by the messenger. It was a spring-autumn style, perfect for midday, but at this hour, it couldn’t fend off the cold.

 

After days of riding, fatigue settled in as soon as he sat down. But he couldn’t sleep—not now.

 

He mustn’t fall asleep at this moment.

 

If he did, he might succumb to hypothermia and perish right here.

 

His teeth chattered, and he forced himself to stand up.

 

Xie Bufeng clenched the reins, mounted the horse, and urged it forward.

 

“Go!” he commanded.

 

His eyes narrowed as he spurred the horse into a gallop. Accelerating, he leaped high, clearing the checkpoint outside the camp.

 

From a distance, he resembled a black lightning bolt.

 

“Wait! Wait!!!” The soldiers guarding the camp entrance were caught off guard by Xie Bufeng’s actions.

 

They stared, wide-eyed, then hurriedly gave chase.

 

But the swift horse’s speed was beyond their reach.

 

His wavy black hair billowed behind him, and his aura was unstoppable.

 

The pursuing soldiers couldn’t keep up with his expert riding skills.

 

In the blink of an eye, Xie Bufeng had already appeared outside the largest tent. Swiftly dismounting, he kicked away a soldier who was drawing his sword and pushed aside the tent curtain to step inside.

 

“You—” The general stood up abruptly, eyes wide, ready to reprimand Xie Bufeng.

 

Before he could utter a word, he saw the young man standing in the middle of the tent, coldly surveying his surroundings. “Is it that if I, the Eldest Prince, don’t come, you’ll forget what the military order you just received actually said?”

 

Xie Bufeng rarely used the term “I” in this context, and now his words carried a veiled threat.

 

Hearing Xie Bufeng’s words, the general instinctively felt disdain. 

 

However, despite Xie Bufeng being sent to the border, his royal status remained intact. And as he had just received orders to accommodate Xie Bufeng, the content was indeed about his placement.

 

The general clenched his teeth and swallowed his anger. He turned to command someone to take Xie Bufeng away.

 

But the young man in the tent raised an eyebrow, as if suddenly remembering something. “General, don’t you offer any courtesy when meeting me, the Eldest Prince?”

 

The messengers who had accompanied Xie Bufeng here exchanged puzzled glances. 

 

They had already sensed the imposing aura emanating from the young man and obediently followed his decisions. 

 

However, during their journey, they hadn’t paid Xie Bufeng any respect. If the young man hadn’t brought it up, they would have completely forgotten about this matter.

 

Upon hearing Xie Bufeng’s words, the general’s face turned ironclad. 

 

The legendary Xie Bufeng was a monster with little presence, and he hadn’t expected him to use his own status to suppress others.

 

At this point, the courtesy couldn’t be ignored.

 

The general gritted his teeth and stepped forward, kneeling on one knee to pay his respects to Xie Bufeng. “I pay my respects to Your Highness,” he said, filled with shame.

 

Xie Bufeng smiled but didn’t rush to have him rise. Instead, he turned and studied the various weapons hanging in the tent.

 

Kneeling on one knee was uncomfortable, especially for a general wearing heavy armor. After a while, his body began to sway.

 

Now everyone knew that he could no longer kneel.

 

There have been no major wars in the Wei Dynasty in recent years, and the army has been poorly trained, let alone the level of generals.

 

Before the war began, he ate and drank excessively every day, and his health was already extremely weak.

 

The sound of armor colliding in the military tent became louder and louder. The general finally couldn’t support his body and fell to his knees on the ground with a thud.

 

Hearing the voice, Xie Bufeng finally turned around with a smile.

 

“General, how can you be so polite?” He looked at the other person with contempt, and then said nonchalantly, “Please stand up quickly.”

 

“…Thank you, Your Highness,” the general ground out through clenched teeth.

 

Xie Bufeng is not someone who is easy to bully. If others make him unhappy, he will get back at them a hundredfold.

 

Back in the Taishu Palace, he had even dared to challenge the Emperor himself—let alone a mere general.

 

The young man hadn’t wanted to engage with this person, but it was the general’s initial decision not to send Xie Bufeng directly to the military camp that had caused this trouble.

 

After the general stood up, he coldly smiled. “His Majesty’s orders are for the Eldest Prince to live and train alongside ordinary soldiers in the northernmost tent of the camp. No special treatment.”

 

“Take His Highness to the tent at the far north. He’ll reside there and train alongside the soldiers of Guangchi Camp!”

 

Guangchi Camp…

 

During their journey, the messengers had been introduced to the composition of the troops and the functions of various barracks. The name Guangchi Camp has come up several times.

 

It was the vanguard of the army, always the first to engage in battle.

 

Guangchi Camp had a long history, dating back to the early days of the previous dynasty. However, its composition had changed significantly.

 

Initially, Guangchi Camp housed the most elite forces. But now, it was quite the opposite.

 

The messengers hadn’t explicitly stated it, but the implication was clear: Guangchi Camp was where soldiers were sent to die at the start of a war.

 

Soldiers avoided Guangchi Camp, and over time, it became a place for those without connections or favor from superiors. Many soldiers there were forcibly conscripted and lacked proper training.

 

They harbored resentment, especially toward the royal family and the Emperor himself.

 

This group was far removed from the political center and hadn’t heard much about Xie Bufeng’s reputation.

 

All they knew was that Xie Bufeng was a prince.

 

“Very well.” Xie Bufeng accepted the situation calmly, surprising the soldiers. They hurriedly led him toward the northernmost part of Guangchi Camp.

 

…

 

Uniform bedding and armor were distributed throughout the camp.

 

Xie Bufeng, who had lived in the imperial mausoleum since childhood, did not dislike these things. He took them expressionlessly and walked into the military tent.

 

The general was extremely “considerate” and sent someone to the military tent at the first opportunity to introduce Xie Bufeng’s identity to everyone.

 

Xie Bufeng did not sleep well on his first night in the army.

 

Perhaps because the soldiers of Guangchi Camp were going to die, but their living conditions were better than those of ordinary soldiers – at least they were not sleeping in dormitories.

 

But the noise throughout the night still woke Xie Bufeng up from his deep sleep several times.

 

…He couldn’t help but miss the small courtyard of the Yongdu Imperial Medical Bureau again.

 

There is also the faint bitter fragrance on Wen Qingci.

 

The moon at the border seems especially round.

 

Xie Bufeng closed his eyes, but his brain was exceptionally clear.

 

He didn’t know what time it was when he suddenly heard footsteps.

 

…Someone tiptoed over and paused for a moment, as if observing whether Xie Bufeng was asleep.

 

The young man deliberately did not move.

 

Seeing Xie Bufeng lying here as if he had fallen into a deep sleep, the man finally slowly stretched out his hand and reached for the thing on Xie Bufeng’s wrist——

 

That was Wen Qingci’s medicinal jade, and also the only valuable thing on the boy.

 

Xie Bufeng used it to tie his hair during the day, and at night, he followed Wen Qingci’s example and wrapped it around his wrist.

 

The man was an enforced soldier. From the first day he arrived in Changyuan Town, he had the idea of ​​escaping.

 

He had even found the war horses and planned the route.

 

The only problem was that he lacked the money to escape.

 

When the man introduced Xie Bufeng’s identity just now, he saw the medicinal jade on the boy’s wrist at a glance, and he became interested…

 

The visitor held his breath and grabbed the medicine jade.

 

However, the next moment, the young man, who should have been fast asleep, suddenly opened his eyes.

 

The moonlight reflected in the amber eyes, turning into an icy sharp blade, slashing towards him.

 

The young man’s eyes were like a wolf’s.

 

“ah–“

 

A scream pierced the military tent, waking everyone up and asking them to look over here.

 

The young man’s hand tightly clamped the man’s throat.

 

Before the man could even utter the words to beg for mercy, he was strangled to death.

 

“Murder!” Someone shouted first, then staggered out of the military tent, “Xie Bufeng murdered someone!”

 

Countless swords pointed towards Xie Bufeng.

 

He didn’t even look at them, but just threw the corpse in his hand aside, and then casually wiped the medicine jade with his sleeve.